VILLUPURAM: Silence echoed through the gallery at Auroville even as many potential buyers pondered over the paintings on display. While the viewers gaze for long at the pictures, which mostly depict underprivileged women, the artist’s intent comes into play. The goal is simple: reflect the oppressed ones’ lives on canvas; let the world behold the reality.
From walking through the narrow streets of his village to showcasing his works at global art exhibitions, the creations of K Sridhar, a Villupuram-based artist, never fail to ignite a unique dialogue between the canvas and its viewers. Hailing from a Dalit family in Thondarettipalayam village, this 45-year-old’s journey from a humble childhood to a celebrated artist stands intertwined amidst his reflections on freedom, human resilience, and the livelihood of the working class.
Born to a father who worked as a wall painting artist, Sridhar grew up observing certain art content that frequently adorned their surroundings. “Mostly, it will be paintings of BR Ambedkar, Hindu deities (for temples), and portraits of political figures. Yet, the magic of the paintbrush stroking the wall, turning the barren surface into a full picture, fascinated me. Being a naive kid, that was what art meant to me back then,” says Sridhar pondering over his long-lost childhood days.
Often, images of hardworking, dark-skinned labourers of his village fill up most of his early memories. These, along with the deep impressions left by his father and chithappa (uncle), immensely influenced his initial foray into the world of art. Later on, he pursued formal training in fine arts, first at Bharathiar University in Puducherry, and then at the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai. All the experiences gained from these institutions not only honed his technical skills but also expanded his worldview, opening doors to exhibitions and recognition on an international scale.
“My childhood made me believe that art was about merely conventional portraits, landscapes, and representations of rural life. However, as I pursued art degree, I began exploring deeper themes, especially ones concerning the intersection of freedom and contradiction. That’s when the reality dawned upon me that art manoeuvred beyond simple representation, delving into the emotional and spiritual landscapes of people and places depicted by the artist,” opined Sridhar.
With the new-found inspiration, he began painting from the memories of his village and its hardworking people. “My villagers worked tirelessly from morning till night without any hesitation and even breathed their last while at work. They toiled daily in farmlands, yet never owned a single piece of a land during their lives. This left a deep scar in my mind, as I kept on wondering what kept my people going,” he recollected.
Though Sridhar barely knew anything about Dalit art at the time, the urge to paint stories of his kind brought him to the global canvas of self-expression and fight for equality. In later years, his works started reflecting the mundane life of labourers, who could not even give a decent farewell to the dead, as many a time the people died at workplaces — farmlands awaiting harvest — far away from hometown.
“After professionally learning and consuming art from global artists, I was clear that the representation of my people is what mattered. My thirst for showcasing our lives to a global audience began growing, and I painted abstracts of our lives, one memory at a time,” added Sridhar, whose most powerful works include a series, particularly depicting women and children.
The array of emotions conveyed through the portraits, particularly the eyes, draws the viewers to an intimate space, where they are forced to confront their own emotions. His ability to capture such fleeting moments of human vulnerability is a testament to his deep empathy and connection with his subjects. Each face tells a different story, often one of resilience amidst adversity.
Another key aspect of Sridhar’s work is his landscape paintings. Inspired by the fields, forests, and waterbodies of his native village, these paintings often feature vast, open spaces that are peaceful, yet charged with tension. Many of them portray toiling labourers; their movements are a testament to the unyielding cycle of life. However, the skies of these paintings tend to be expansive and vibrant, symbolising the endless possibilities lying beyond the horizon. Yet, what makes these landscapes stand out is the subtle way in which they challenge the viewer’s perceptions of freedom. While their natural beauty is undeniable, the presence of labourers serves as a reminder of the social structures that bind us. The contradiction between the freedom offered by open skies and the constraints imposed by society finds a place in most of Sridhar’s works.
In recent years, he has also ventured into the world of abstract art, using lines, shapes, and vibrant colours to convey emotions and ideas that are difficult to express through traditional forms. “In the abstract series, human figures often dissolve into the background, becoming one with the landscape, symbolising the unity between man and nature, even while highlighting the tension existing within that unity,” Sridhar points out.
His artistic expressions continue to receive wide acclaim, with many art enthusiasts purchasing his works because of its themes and the people depicted in them. Recently, his works were exhibited at Auroville, Puducherry, for two weeks till September 7. Sridhar, who had also exhibited his works in France and at Kingston Gallery in London during 2008-09, now aspires to create more abstract art, reflecting the lives of the oppressed people.
Edited by Arya AJ